Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 11 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• MNC-I Soldier dies from non-combat related injuries (Camp Victory)
• U.S. Soldier dies of Non-Combat injuries
• DoD News: DOD Identifies Marine Casualty
• Dec. 10 airpower summary AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 10 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Secretary Gates Conducts Town Hall Meeting at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq DoD 11 Dec 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• 1st Armored Division Cases Colors for Deployment Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- Soldiers from 1st Armored Division Special Troops Battalion marched into a parking lot on Wiesbaden Army Airfield filled with Christmas lights, ponies, rides and their families and friends as they prepared to case their unit colors for the last time in Germany before deploying to Iraq, Dec. 11, 2009.
• Gates Says US Air Force May Remain in Iraq Beyond 2011 VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. Air Force will likely continue to have a role in Iraq after all U.S. troops are currently scheduled to leave at the end of 2011, under a U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed last year. Gates spoke to U.S. troops at Forward Operating Base Warrior, near Kirkuk, northern Iraq.
• Iraqis Arrest 7 in Multiple Operations AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested seven terrorism suspects in multiple operations in Iraq today, military officials reported.
• Corps of Engineers Prepares for Iraqi Elections AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- In preparation for the upcoming Iraqi national elections, the Gulf Region District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is serving as the managing partner for the construction of 15 “expedient police stations” in northern Iraq.
• U.S.: 16,000 U.S. Troops Received Afghan Orders RFE/RL 11 Dec 2009 -- a battalion of Marines -- are expected to arrive in southern Afghanistan next week.
• Troops, Government Team Up to Rebuild Bridge AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- Task Force Mountain Warrior servicemembers and Afghan contractors are working to replace a bridge across the Saracha River here.
• Afghanistan Tops Agenda at Gates Town Hall AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- Gather about 300 deployed soldiers and airmen, give them the opportunity to ask the defense secretary about what matters to them, and you might expect to hear questions about military pay and benefits, or complaints about spending too much time away from home.
• Airman helps rescues 3 injured warriors during battle in Afghanistan AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- An Air National Guard member from the 129th Rescue Squadron here recently returned home from her deployment to Afghanistan after being wounded by enemy forces during the rescue of three injured American Soldiers July 29.
• Marine Offense Gives Afghan City Second Chance AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- A battalion of Marines in southern Afghanistan now has the upper hand in a city they believed to be a Taliban stronghold, a senior Marine Corps officer in Helmand province said today.
• Airmen build future Afghan pilot training base AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- Airmen restored an airfield that will eventually become the home of the Afghan National Army Air Corps undergraduate pilot training in Shindand, Afghanistan.
• US: Top al-Qaida Leader Killed in Pakistan VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- U.S. officials say a top al-Qaida leader has been killed in a drone attack in restive northwestern Pakistan.
• USS De Wert Assists Iranian Dhow Navy NewsStand 11 Dec 2009 -- USS De Wert (FFG 45) provided assistance to an Iranian fishing dhow experiencing problems Dec. 9 in the Indian Ocean.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Truman Completes 90,000th Trap Navy NewsStand 11 Dec 2009 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) accomplished its 90,000th carrier arrest Dec. 6 during recent Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications (FRS CQ).
• USS Key West Returns to Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 11 Dec 2009 -- Los Angeles-class fast-attack nuclear powered submarine USS Key West (SSN 772) returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor Dec. 10 following a six-month deployment to the western Pacific region.
• Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Sailors in Korea Navy NewsStand 11 Dec 2009 -- Sailors in Korea were able to ask the chief of naval personnel questions during all hands calls in Chinhae and Seoul during his visit Dec. 9-11.
• USS Nicholas Arrives in 6th Fleet AOR Navy NewsStand 11 Dec 2009 -- USS Nicholas (FFG 47) arrived in the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) Dec. 8 after a five-day transit across the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Guns of Colorado - 169th Fires Brigade Adds Artillery Muscle to Yama Sakura 57 Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- It's the kind of thing one might hear at an office - the voices of seasoned professionals analyzing information, and exchanging questions and assessments.
• Air Force officials developing cross-culturally competent officers AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- In an effort to produce more culturally competent officers, Air Force ROTC officials now encourage cadets to take foreign language coursework and participate in cultural and language immersion and study abroad programs, according to an Air Force culture and language official.
• Conference Explores Trauma’s Impact on Families AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- The nation must move beyond the “suck it up and drive on” military culture of the past and look to a future that puts psychological and spiritual injuries on par with physical ones, the Army’s highest-ranking psychiatrist said yesterday.
• 181st Infantry Brigade trains Soldiers at Fort McCoy for deployment Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- Col. Michael Todd, commander of the 181st Infantry Brigade at Fort McCoy, said his brigade is focused on training Soldiers for deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as the winter season approaches
• Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport upgrades improve safety, security Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- Improved runway lighting and signage will make it easier and safer for aircraft taking off and landing at the joint-use Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport
• Live-fire demo showcases future weapons Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- The Small Arms Branch of the Soldier Requirements Division rolled out more than 30 weapon systems - including pistols, rifles, sniper weapons, machine guns and grenade launchers - for a special live-fire demonstration Tuesday at Red Cloud Range
• TASM-E provides essential movement support to 3rd CAB warfighters Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- Even before the sun rose over the U.S. Naval Station, Rota, Spain, personnel from the Theater Aviation Sustainment Manager-Europe were working on the mammoth task of off-loading a three-story cargo ship filled with critical equipment destined for Afghanistan
• Apache Block III Aircraft Tests New Technology Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- Developmental prototypes of the U.S. Army's next-generation Block III Apache Attack helicopter tested emerging technologies which allow pilots to control UAVs and their sensor payloads from the cockpit of the aircraft during a so-called Limited User Test (LUT) in November at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., service officials said.
• Officials unveil $42.6 million Aberdeen road project Army News 11 Dec 2009 -- State officials unveiled a $42.6 million road project outside Aberdeen Proving Ground today.
• Airmen gather to develop rapid deployment tactics for operational airfield support AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- Airfield support experts gathered at Air Mobility Command headquarters here to develop a standardized method to build and sustain expeditionary airfield operations in austere locations.
• 2010 Thrift Savings Plan contributions remain at 2009 limits AFNS 11 Dec 2009 -- The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board here announced Dec. 11 the 2010 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions will remain at $16,500, unchanged from 2009.
• Army Suicide Rate Increases Five Straight Years AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- The rate of soldier suicides this year exceeded the 2008 total with 147 reports through November, marking the fifth consecutive year the service’s suicide rate has increased.
• Chairman Marks National Guard’s 373rd Birthday AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a message today commemorating 373 years of service by the National Guard.
• Program Manager Explains Delay in ‘Stop Loss’ Claims AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- After an initial delay caused by software and manpower issues, the first retroactive payments will be disbursed next week to soldiers who were retained on active duty involuntarily under the so-called “Stop Loss” program.
• 31st MEU reflects on 2009 USMC News 11 Dec 2009 -- The Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a combination of exercises and operations during its 2009 patrols of the Asia-Pacific region
• MAG-40 Corpsmen Get Unique Trauma Training at British Forces Hospital USMC News 11 Dec 2009 -- The United Kingdom Medical Group runs the hospital here and recently offered a unique experience to Marine Aircraft Group 40 Navy corpsmen by allowing them to assist in the trauma unit of the hospital
• Poland, U.S. sign SOFA deal on troop deployment terms RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Poland and the United States signed Friday a status of forces agreement (SOFA) laying out the conditions for the deployment of U.S. troops on Polish soil.
• Iraq armaments contract Ukraine's biggest - arms exporter RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- A contract to deliver armaments to Iraq is the largest one since Ukraine became independent after the fall of the Soviet Union, a deputy head of the state's arms trader Ukrspetsexport said Friday.
• U.S., Russia Make Progress on Nuclear Reduction Agreement AFPS 11 Dec 2009 -- The United States and Russia are making progress on a pledge to reach an agreement on a nuclear weapons reduction pact to replace a long-standing bilateral treaty that expired last week.
• Russia, U.S. to continue arms cut talks in Geneva next week RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Russia and the United States will continue talks on a new nuclear arms reduction deal to replace the expired START 1 treaty in Geneva next week, a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.
• Wreckage found in Tatar Strait belongs to crashed Tu-142 RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Wreckage recently discovered in the Tatar Strait belonged to the Russian military Tu-142 plane that crashed in the area in early November, a search team member has said.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 Dec 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 11, 2009
• A400M, Airbus Military’s new airlifter, takes to the skies EADS 11 Dec 2009 -- This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
• A400M, world’s most advanced airlifter, completes first flight EADS 11 Dec 2009 -- The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has landed back in Seville, Spain today at 14:02 local time (13:02 UTC) after completing a successful maiden flight lasting 3h 47min following its take-off at 10:15 local time.
• Northrop Grumman-Built U.S. Navy Amphibious Transport Dock Somerset (LPD 25) Honors Heroes of United Airlines Flight 93 Northrop Grumman 11 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) observed a significant milestone with a keel authentication ceremony for Somerset (LPD 25), the ninth ship in the LPD 17 series of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships being built by the company.
• Thales Technologies Onboard the A400M Thales 11 Dec 2009 -- Airbus Military today successfully achieved the first flight of the A400M, the multi-role transport aircraft that is set to redefine operational and humanitarian missions. The A400M is a larger and more flexible aircraft than traditional airlifters. It draws on state-of-the-art technology from the civil aerospace domain so as to travel faster, further and with a larger payload.
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Powered X-51A Hypersonic Vehicle Completes First Captive Carry Flight Pratt & Whitney 11 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Air Force X-51A WaveRider vehicle yesterday successfully made its first captive carry flight under the wing of a B-52 carry aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-51A is powered by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

Other Conflicts

• World Court Judges Adjourn to Consider Legality of Kosovo Independence VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- Judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague have adjourned after nine days of hearings into the legality of Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. The United Nations' General Assembly asked judges to give an advisory opinion on the matter, which has divided international legal opinion and pitted the US and Russia against each other.
• UN World Court ends public hearings on the question of Kosovo’s independence UN News Centre 11 Dec 2009 -- Public hearings wrapped up today in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the question of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia early last year, with the court now ready to begin its deliberations.
• Sri Lanka: UN envoy on children and armed conflict ends visit UN News Centre 11 Dec 2009 -- A senior United Nations official today wrapped up a visit to Sri Lanka aimed at determining first-hand the well-being of children affected by the recent conflict between Government forces and separatist Tamil rebels in the north of the Indian Ocean nation.
• Former Company Head Says Serbian Buses Used At Srebrenica RFE/RL 11 Dec 2009 -- The former head of a Serbian bus company says the firm's buses were used to transport Bosnian Muslims from the town of Srebrenica after it fell to Bosnian Serb forces in 1995, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.
• Civilians continue fleeing clashes in northern Yemen, UN reports UN News Centre 11 Dec 2009 -- Thousands of civilians continue to steam out of northern Yemen, where the clashes between Government forces and rebels enter their fifth month, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• Human Rights Watch Supports a War Crimes Tribunal in Liberia VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said it supports the Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) recommendation to prosecute those who committed the most heinous crimes during the country’s brutal civil war.
• Thousands Continue to Flee Fighting in Yemen VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations refugee agency reports thousands of civilians continue to flee their homes in northern Yemen as fighting between government troops and Al Houti rebel forces enters a fifth month. The UNHCR says the situation in Saada province remains particularly tense as more people arrive there.
• Israeli Settlers Suspected of Vandalizing Palestinian Mosque VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- Tensions are rising in the West Bank after speculation Jewish settlers were to blame for desecrating a Muslim holy place.

News Reports

• DPRK on US Envoy's Pyongyang Visit KCNA 11 Dec 2009 -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry Friday gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA as regards the DPRK visit by the U.S. special representative for DPRK policy and his party:
• Pro-N.Korean paper sets conditions for return to nuclear talks RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- North Korea will not agree to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program until the United States agrees to a peace treaty, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan said Friday.
• Moscow intensifies North Korea talks with U.S. envoy's visit RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Washington's point man on the North Korean nuclear issue will visit Moscow next week for talks with Russian diplomats, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
• North Korea says six-party talks need to resume RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- North Korea said after a visit to Pyongyang by U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy that six-party talks on its nuclear program should restart.
• N. Korean Assessment of US Visit Seen as Positive in S. Korea VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- North Korea is giving an upbeat assessment of a visit by a senior U.S. envoy. In Seoul, experts on Pyongyang see the reaction as a sliver of progress toward resuming talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear weapons programs.
• Hoj. Sediqi: Iranian nation not to give up nuclear rights IRNA 11 Dec 2009 -- Substitute Friday prayers leader of Tehran Hojjatoleslam Kazem Sediqi said here Friday that Iranian nation will, by no means and at no cost, give up its nuclear rights.
• Iran, Syria endorse defense pact IRNA 11 Dec 2009 -- Iran and Syria inked a defense cooperation protocol on Friday, based on which they will share experience in the defense domain and form a joint defense cooperation committee for the purpose.
• Syria, Iran strongly willing to face common enemy – Min. says IRNA 11 Dec 2009 -- Syrian Minister of Defense Lieut. Gen. Ali Habib said here Friday that Tehran and Damascus are strongly resolved to face common enemy, a goal for whose materialization they have entered a deal.
• France Leads Push For Iranian Sanctions At UN RFE/RL 11 Dec 2009 -- France has asked its fellow members on the United Nations Security Council to start work on a new round of sanctions against Iran for its refusal to verify the peaceful character of its nuclear program.
• Gates Predicts Stronger Sanctions on Iran, Unless Nuclear Policy Changes VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicted Friday that the international community will impose stronger economic sanctions on Iran unless its leaders change their policy and live up to agreements related to their nuclear program. Gates spoke to U.S. troops at Forward Operating Base Warrior, near Kirkuk, northern Iraq.
• BIMSTEC adopts convention to combat terrorism, insurgency IRNA 11 Dec 2009 -- The seven-nation BIMSTEC grouping Friday adopted a convention to combat terrorism and insurgency, a step that is expected to add teeth to India's action against militancy, particularly in its north east.
• Global swine flu death toll rises to some 9,600 - WHO RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Some 800 people died from the À/H1N1 virus in the first week of December, bringing the death toll to 9,596, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Friday.
• Pakistani Official Says 5 Americans Will Not Be Deported VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan's interior minister says five young Americans arrested in Pakistan's Punjab province this week on suspicion of trying to join militant Islamist groups will not be immediately deported.
• Clinton Cautions Latin American States About Iranian Influence VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday urged Latin American countries to "think twice" about establishing links with Iran, which she said is the world's leading promoter and exporter of terrorism. Clinton also expressed concern about democratically-elected leaders in Latin America who later move to undermine democratic institutions.
• EU Summit Concludes With Climate Pledge, Call For Financial 'Tobin' Tax RFE/RL 11 Dec 2009 -- European Union leaders today agreed to collectively contribute more than 2 billion euros a year between 2010-2012 toward offsetting the costs the world's developing nations will incur in cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.
• Zelaya to leave Honduras by January 27 - embassy RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya should leave the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa before his term expires on January 27, Brazil's Globonews TV channel said on Friday.
• Turkey Bans Pro-Kurdish Party VOA 11 Dec 2009 -- The ruling comes as the government is attempting to bring an end to 25 years of fighting with the Kurdish rebels.
• Tymoshenko ready to join hands with Yushchenko 'for Ukraine's sake' RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2009 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko does not regret her decision to support Viktor Yushchenko in the 2004 presidential elections and is ready to unite with the incumbent president "for the sake of Ukraine."